County government plans to spend $20,000 to acquire several drones and use them for public safety, land and infrastructure surveys and incident management, but the county has yet to develop rules and policies.
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House With 5 Occupants in Palm Coast’s Z-Section Is Shot Up, But Surveillance Video Was ‘Deleted’
The 1,600-square-foot house at 16 Zircon Court in Palm Coast was the target of a shooting early Sunday morning. Nine bullet holes were detected.
Hammock Group Appeals Captain’s BBQ Plan at Bing’s Landing, and County Questions Filing
The Hammock Community Association filed an appeal of a county planning board approval of the expansion of Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing, drawing a challenge from the county on grounds that the decision is not appealable that way.
Monday Briefing: Michael Bowling Trial, Snowfest, County Drones, FPC’s Advisory Council
The first trial of Michael Bowling, accused of molesting a girl, begins today, Snowfest 2018 took place in central Park, the County Commission discusses the addition of drones to its arsenal.
T.K. Wetherell, Former House Speaker and Florida State President, Dies at 72
Wetherell, a Daytona Beach native, served in the House from 1980 to 1992, the final two years as speaker. He died of cancer.
Judges Gaustad and Ferebee Join 7th Judicial Circuit Bench, Among Other Changes
The Seventh Judicial Circuit welcomes two new Circuit Judges and announces changes to judicial assignments for several sitting judges.
Democrats’ Arafat Complex
Early possibilities for the 2020 election–Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton–suggest Democrats aren’t learning lessons but clinging to habits of self-destruction.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Entire Affordable Care Act, Putting Law In Peril–Again
Judge Reed C. O’Connor struck down the law, siding with Republican state attorneys general to say the tax bill passed by Congress last December effectively rendered the entire health law unconstitutional.
Katherine May Sanford, 85, Is Killed in Crash on U.S. 1 and Seminole Woods Boulevard
Katherine May Sanford, 85, a resident of Palm Coast, was killed Friday evening in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 1 and Seminole Woods Boulevard.
Yet Another Student Is Arrested, At FPC, Over School Shooting Threats, Capping Exasperating Week
In the fourth school-safety incident in five school days, yet another student, a 16-year-old attending Flagler Palm Coast High School, was arrested today on allegations that he threatened to shoot up the school.
Two More Students, Both 13, Face Charges Over Shooting Threats Targeting Indian Trails Middle
The reported threats on an after-school bus was the third incident in the last five school days resulting in charges or arrests involving a total of five students.
Florida Supreme Court Clears Cops to Use Stand Your Ground Defense in Shootings
Stand your ground applies to “persons,” and “a law enforcement officer is a ‘person’ whether on duty or off, and irrespective of whether the officer is making an arrest,” the court ruled unanimously.
Eddie Collins, 62, of Bunnell, Dies of Injuries From U.S. 1 Pick-Up Crash
Eddie Collins, the 62-year-old Bunnell man critically injured in a crash on U.S. 1 on Monday (Dec. 10), died Thursday evening at Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach.
Weekend Briefing: Palm Coast Boat Parade, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Breakfast With Santa, Navy Band
The Annual holiday boat parade takes to Palm Coast’s canals Saturday evening, Matanzas’s Key Club hosts a Breakfast With Santa, grieving through the holidays, the Navy Band at the Auditorium.
Survivor of Half-Failed Double-Suicide May Not Get To Blame Depression in “Assisted Murder” Defense
Bruce Haughton says he planned to kill himself and his ex-girlfriend Katherine Goddard in her R-Section home. She died. He survived. The prosecution sees it only as assisted murder, discounting his mental state.
With Judge’s Help, Sheriff’s Insurance Carrier Corners Employees Over Workers’ Comp Claims as Fate of Building Looms
Some 30 Flagler County Sheriff’s employees have been in a dispiriting battle with their own agency’s insurance carrier and the judge ruling on their workers’ compensation claims, portending little hope that they may prevail.
Thursday Briefing: A Lawyer’s Gift to Flagler Beach, Jose Antonio Jimenez Execution, ITMS Band Concert
Flagler Beach attorney Scott Spradley gifts the city with a new print of the Pier to mark two anniversaries, the Indian Trails Middle School Band is in concert, Barbara Ehrenreich on what’s killing the poor.
Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause School Board’s Janet McDonald and Husband Dennis Violated Law on Disclosures
A state ethics investigation found that both Dennis and Janet McDonald inaccurately reported assets on disclosure forms ahead of election runs. The late Frank Meeker, a county commissioner, filed the ethics complaints shortly before his death in 2016.
FPC Teacher Pursues Hate Crime Charges On 2 Racist Students Who Threatened Her
Two 16-year-old students who exchanged a string of online, racist threats about their language arts teacher during class on Monday face misdemeanor assault charges with a possible enhancement under Florida’s hate-crime law.
Palm Coast Man, 23, Faces Molestation Charge After He’s Found With Girl, 15, at Flagler Beach Park
T.J., 23, of Palm Coast, was found with a 15-year-old girl in his car between 3 and 4 a.m. at Flagler Beach’s Betty Steflik Park Monday, but says no sexual contact took place.
‘Culture Change’ Needed In Schools as Parkland Massacre Commission Finalizes Its Work
The panel will ask the Legislature to impose sanctions if school districts failed to put into effect some of the school-safety measures, including measures already required by law, such as active-shooter drills.
Wednesday Briefing: Dinner With Santa at FPC, Holiday Giving Tea, School Shooting Commission
Dinner With Santa and a pasta dinner at FPC tonight for just $3, Holiday Giving Tea fund-raiser at the Flagler Auditorium, the Parkland shooting commission meets.
Understanding the Rise of France’s Yellow Jackets
In a larger sense the Yellow Vests movement reflects longstanding neglect or exploitation of rural communities. Not only in France but in the US and much of Western Europe.
In Novel Argument, Constitutional Amendment Spurs Call for Stay of Execution
The arguments center on part of Amendment 11, which was approved by 62 percent of voters and which changed a more than century-old provision dealing with how revisions in criminal laws should be applied to older crimes.
2 FPC Students’s Threats Targeting Teacher Were Racially Motivated; Criminal Charges Still Possible
Two students claiming they were just joking made explicit, racist threats against their teacher in written chats uncovered Monday, and may yet face criminal charges, contrary to earlier claims.
Disputed Wetlands Restoration In Flagler Beach Will Proceed as St. Johns River Board Unanimously Approves $500,000 Project
The St. Johns River Water Management Board unanimously approved the 100-acre, $500,000 wetlands restoration project on the Intracoastal Waterway near Gamble Rogers Recreation Area in Flagler Beach.
Kimberle Weeks Pleads to Another Felony Count and, Months Late, Files Appeal
Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler County elections supervisor, pleaded to the eighth and final felony count against her the day her attorney filed an appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Tuesday Briefing: Wetlands Restoration Reckoning, Palm Coast Survey, Starlight Video, MHS Concert
The St. Johns Water Management District board discusses a controversial wetlands restoration plan for Flagler Beach, the Palm Coast council talks citizens survey, Matanzas High presents a winter concert.
Two FPC Students Barred From Campus After Allegations of Online Threats Against Teacher
Two students at FPC were allegedly exchanging online chatter about the time and place to harm a teacher. The Sheriff’s Office investigated and declined to pursue charges, though the students face discipline from the district.
Judge Lowers Bond in Revenge Porn Case from $20,000 to $2,500, Enabling Release
Au’qoin Kendrell Neeley, 20, of Filbert Lane in Palm Coast, faces a felony charge of transmitting child pornography by an electronic device and a misdemeanor charge of cyber-harassment.
Opposing Scott Court Cases, DeSantis
Signals Friendlier Approach to Medical Pot
DeSantis, a Republican who will take office on Jan. 8, is unwilling to continue some of the court battles now being waged by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott’s administration.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Attacking Mom, Fiancée and Cop Before He Is Tased
Gregory Thilesen, 28, of Palm Coast, faces a felony charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor charges of domestic battery.
Jeffrey Foust, 11, Donates Year’s Allowance to Flagler Deputies in His Cop Father’s Memory
Jeffrey Foust, 11, bought 54 gift cards worth $600 to donate to 54 Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies, most of whom paid them forward at the Christmas With a Deputy event Friday.
Monday Briefing: Michael Bowling in Court, Judge Moore-Stens at Old Kings, Bunnell Containers
A status hearing in the case of Michael Bowling, accusing of sexually assaulting two minor girls, Judge Moore-Stens drops by 6th graders’ classes at Old Kings Elementary, the Bunnell commission again talks containers.
Flagler’s Beach ‘Renourishment’ Is Exorbitant Futility
Whether it’s the Corps of Engineers’ plan for 2.6 miles of Flagler Beach sands or Flagler County’s ongoing dune-rebuilding over 12 miles, there’s no money to sustain either, yet officials are mortgaging the county’s future on a blank check.
DeSantis Names Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, as Florida’s Emergency Management Chief
Moskowitz will succeed Division of Emergency Management Director Wes Maul, who was appointed by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott last year.
Buddy Taylor Middle Student Arrested With Loaded Gun in Math Class; .45 Was Stolen From Unlocked Car on Point Pleasant
A 14-year-old student was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to Buddy Taylor Middle School today. The gun had been reported stolen out of an unlocked car in Palm Coast in April.
Joseph J. Faircloth, 38, Killed in Motorcycle Crash On Palm Coast’s Rickenbacker Drive
Joseph James Faircloth, a 38-year-old Palm Coast resident, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Rickenbacker Drive in Palm Coast early this morning. No one else was involved.
Christmas With a Deputy Tonight: A Record $16,717 Raised For 124 Children
Christmas With a Deputy at Target this evening will feature 124 children riding in 110 police cars from Town Center to the shopping center for a Christmas spree.
Weekend Briefing: Legislative Delegation, Starlight Parade, Access Flagler First, Narcan Awareness
Flagler’s state lawmakers hear local wish lists, the Starlight Parade in Town Center, Narcan awareness at First Friday and Access Flagler First, plus concerts, plays and dancing all over the place.
The Migrant Caravan’s Lessons from South of the Border
In Tijuana, some Mexicans have embraced the Trump line on Central American migrants. But others have welcomed them with open arms.
Pushing For Charter Schools and Vouchers, DeSantis Will name Corcoran Education Commissioner
Corcoran, a lawyer and Republican from Pasco County, secured the passage of two major charter-school and voucher-friendly bills during his 2016-18 tenure as speaker.
Flagler-Palm Coast’s Crime Rate Falls Sharply in First 6 Months of 2018, Arrests Up 35%
The drop in crime in Flagler and Palm Coast was reflected across almost every category and the addition of 23 new deputies led to a steep rise in arrests in the first six months of 2018.
Holland and Cuff Put Their Differences To Work in Search for New Palm Coast Manager
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and Council member Bob Cuff disagreed on key search parameters for a new manager, but the disagreements only shaped a more synthesized process that may yield a new manager by late winter.
Flagler Will Try a Different, Riskier Strategy to Protect Its Short-Term Rental Regulations
Flagler County government may lobby lawmakers less intensely than they have over the past three years on vacation-rental regulations, hoping instead that the county is carved out of a potential statewide retreat on such regulations.
Thursday Briefing: Grand Reserve Booming, Matanzas Band Concert, Bush’s Education Reform
The Matanzas Band and Percussion ensembles present their Holiday Concert, Critic’s Choice Dinner at Salsa’s Restaurant, ex-Gov. Jeb Bush kicks off an education reform conference.
Putnam Stays Out Fight Over Concealed Weapons Permits as His Office Goes to a Democrat
After the concealed-weapons permitting processed revealed serious flaws under Adam Putnam, attempts are afoot to move the process to state police, out of the agriculture commissioner’s purview.
Judge Orders Sheriff’s Operations Center Tested for Toxins Again, On Behalf of Employees
Sheriff’s employees have been seeking for months to have an independent round of testing for toxins inside the troubled, evacuated Sheriff’s Operations Center. That will take place on Dec. 13.
Many Questions Remain as County and City Approve $100 Million, 50-Year Beach-Protection Plan in Flagler Beach
Flagler County will be on the hook for nearly half the almost $100-million cost of the project over its 50-year span, with the federal government responsible for the rest.
Darryl Fultz, 51, Harvey Perly, 83:
Two Suicides in 3 Days in Palm Coast
Darryl L. Fultz, 51, of 69 Eric Drive, took his life using a gun on Dec. 2, Harvey Perly, 83, did so on Dec. 4 in his front yard at 55 Christopher Court South in Palm Coast.